Tag Archives: tennis hall of fame

An active Fed Cup competitor and committed team member for more than a decade, the Czech star helped her team to Fed Cup victory in 1988.

NEWPORT, R.I., U.S.A., November 3, 2012 – The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) are pleased to announce that Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic is the recipient of the 2012 Fed Cup Award of Excellence. The award was presented by ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti and Jane Brown Grimes, president emerita of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, on Saturday, November 3 in Prague, during the 2012 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Final between Czech Republic and Serbia.

Photo by Paul Zimmer

“In addition to being a talented and successful player, Jana Novotna was a leader and role model on and off the court during a pivotal time in her nation’s history. She demonstrated great commitment and was an integral member of the Czech Fed Cup team for more than a decade. In appreciation of her contributions to tennis and to Fed Cup, we are proud to present her with the Fed Cup Award of Excellence,” said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti.

Each year since 2001, the ITF and the Hall of Fame have presented the Fed Cup Award of Excellence to a person who represents the ideals and spirit of the Fed Cup competition. It is presented to a person who has been an active member of a past or present Fed Cup team.

Novotna contested 33 Fed Cup ties over the course of 12 years and she played a key role in the team’s success. She was a member of the championship Czechoslovakian team in 1988 and helped lead the team to three other semifinal finishes. Overall, Novotna compiled a winning record of 22-7 in singles and 11-5 in doubles.

In 2005, Novotna was inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in recognition of her tremendous career success. She achieved a career high ranking of No. 2 in singles and No. 1 in doubles, and was the year-end No. 1 in doubles 11 times over the course of her career. Novotna was the Wimbledon champion in 1998, and she was a three-time Grand Slam singles finalist. In addition to her Wimbledon trophy, Novotna won 12 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles (four at Wimbledon, three at the French Open, three at the US Open, and two at the Australian Open) and four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles (two at the Australian Open, one at Wimbledon, and one at the US Open). Known for her dramatic serve and volley game, Novotna won 100 titles (24 in singles and 76 in doubles) during her 14-year career.

Past recipients of the Fed Cup Award of Excellence have been Anastasia Myskina of Russia in 2011; Billie Jean King of the United States in 2010; Mary Joe Fernandez of the United States and Silvia Farina of Italy in 2009; Miguel Margets of Spain in 2008; Lea Pericoli of Italy in 2007; Sabine Appelmans of Belgium in 2006; Françoise “Frankie” Dürr of France in 2005; Olga Morozova of Russia in 2004; Larisa Savchenko of Latvia in 2003; Virginia Wade of Great Britain in 2002; and Spain’s Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Conchita Martinez in 2001.

About the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum

Established in 1954, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of tennis, inspiring and encouraging junior tennis development, providing a landmark for tennis enthusiasts worldwide, and enshrining tennis heroes and heroines with the highest honor in the sport of tennis- induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In 1986, the International Tennis Federation, the governing body of tennis, officially recognized the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum as the sport’s official Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, on a six-acre property that features an extensive Museum chronicling the history of the sport and honoring the 225 Hall of Famers; 13 grass tennis courts and an indoor tennis facility that are open to the public and to a club membership; a rare Court Tennis facility; and an historic 297-seat theatre. Annually in July, the venue hosts the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships for the Van Alen Cup, an ATP World Tour event. The buildings and grounds, which were constructed in 1880 by McKim, Mead & White to serve as a social club for Newport’s summer residents, are renowned for their incredible architecture and preservation. The facility was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is supported by Official Partners including BNP Paribas, Chubb Personal Insurance, Kia Motors and Rolex Watch USA. For information on the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and its programs, call 401-849-3990 or visit us online at www.tennisfame.com.

About Fed Cup by BNP Paribas

Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with 85 nations taking part in 2012. The event will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2013. The title sponsor is BNP Paribas, the Official Bank of Fed Cup. Adecco (Official HR Sponsor) and BoscoSport (Official Clothing Sponsor) are international sponsors, and Wilson Sporting Goods (Official Ball) is an international partner. Follow all the action on http://www.fedcup.com, http://www.fedcup.com/es and http://www.twitter.com/fedcup.

NEWPORT, R.I. — Jack Sock, one of America’s most exciting rising tennis stars, has been awarded a wild card to play in the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, to be hosted July 9 – 15, 2012 on the grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. At just 19 years old and having competed in only four prior ATP World Tour events, Sock has already caught the attention of the tennis world, and has a major title to his name. In 2011, Sock partnered with fellow American Melanie Oudin to win the US Open mixed doubles title, upsetting veterans and past Grand Slam champions along the way. That same year, he won the USTA Boys’ 18s title and was awarded a wild card into the US Open, where he defeated then No. 97 Marc Gicquel in the first round.

“We have a very strong group of players headed for Newport in just a few short weeks – John Isner, Kei Nishikori, The Bryans, and many more, and it will be great to see one of America’s most exciting young talents in the mix with that field,” said Tournament Director Mark Stenning. “We look forward to welcoming Jack to Newport for his debut on the Hall of Fame grass courts.”

Sock had a strong start to this season, winning a Futures title in Florida in January, and following it up by advancing to the semifinals of another Futures event the following week. Since competing in his first ATP World Tour event at Miami in 2011, Sock has jumped more than 250 spots in the ATP World Tour South African Airways rankings.

A talented and successful junior player, Sock won the US Open boys’ singles title in 2010, and then captured 18 USTA National titles in 2010 and 2011. A Nebraska native, Sock graduated from Blue Valley North High School in Kansas in May 2011. He compiled an 80-0 recorded during his high school career and won four consecutive state championships.

This will be Sock’s first appearance in Newport, which is the only tournament on grass courts in North or South America, and offers the only opportunity to see men’s pro tennis in the Northeast before the US Open. In addition to Sock, players slated to compete in Newport include the tournament’s defending champion John Isner, currently ranked world No. 10; the record-setting doubles team of Bob & Mike Bryan, who have 11-time Grand Slam titles to their names; Japan’s No. 1 Kei Nishikori who is currently ranked world No. 20; and world No. 22 Milos Raonic, the No. 1 ranked Canadian player.

For additional information and to order tickets, please call the Tournament Office at 401-849-6053 or visit tennisfame.com.

Last weekend, during one of the tennis world’s grandest annual celebrations, European royals gathered with tennis legends to celebrate the sport and honor some of its most elite players at a Hall of Fame ring presentation that was hosted during La Grande Nuit du Tennis, the gala event of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. Longtime tennis aficionado His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco presented Hall of Fame rings to four great tennis champions and contributors to the sport. The honored recipients were former world No. 1, Ilie Nastase of Romania; France’s beloved player Françoise “Frankie” Durr; the man heralded as the greatest Italian player of all time, Nicola Pietrangeli; and Italian tennis journalist Gianni Clerici. All four tennis legends have already been honored for their achievements and great contributions to the sport with induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. During this ceremony, their official Hall of Fame rings were presented as a symbol of their Hall of Fame induction and their remarkable tennis careers.

In addition to his personal interests as a player and fan, Prince Albert has a long history with the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. In 1954, his mother, Princess Grace, participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island in the United States. In 2004, Prince Albert traveled to Newport to serve as Master of Ceremony for the 50th anniversary celebration, which featured the Hall of Fame induction of Stefanie Graf and Stefan Edberg, and a gathering of all of the living Hall of Famers, including tennis luminaries such as Rod Laver, Virginia Wade, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, and John McEnroe, among others. Prince Albert has served on the Board of Directors for the Hall of Fame, a non-profit institution dedicated to honoring the greatest legends of tennis and preserving the history of the sport.

Also participating in the ring presentation was International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum Chairman Christopher E. Clouser and CEO Mark L. Stenning, and Zeljko Franulovic, Director of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.

“We are grateful to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and our colleagues at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters for partnering with us on this special occasion,” said Clouser. “It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary careers of these Hall of Famers in Europe, where they have so many fans and have left such a positive impact on the sport. As Hall of Famers, Ilie, Frankie, Nicola, and Gianni are already among an elite group of athletes. We are pleased to be able to recognize their achievements once more with this special ring, which only the most successful and influential individuals in tennis will have the honor of wearing.”

With 102 titles to his name, former world No. 1 Ilie Nastase of Romania is one of just five players in tennis history to have won more than 100 titles (57 in singles and 45 in doubles). Nastase was a world top-10 player from 1973-1978 and held the world No. 1 ranking from August 1973-June 1974. He captured seven major titles, including both singles and doubles titles at the French and US Opens, as well as a doubles title and two mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon. Nastase had a remarkable record at the year-end championships as well, winning four Masters Grand Prix year-end championship titles and seven Championship Series titles (1970-73), the precursors to the current Masters 1000. Nastase represented Romania in Davis Cup from the 1960s-1980s, leading the team to the finals three times. Widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Nastase was inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991.

As a competitor heralded for her remarkable tactical ability and ball control, Françoise Durr of France captured 26 career singles titles and 60 career doubles titles. For more than a decade in the 1960s and 1970s, she was ranked among the top-ten in the world. Durr reached a total of 27 major finals in singles, doubles and mixed and won 12 major titles. She was the 1967 Roland Garros champion, and earned all her other major titles in doubles and mixed doubles. Durr was a long-time Fed Cup player for France, representing the team for 14 years (1963-67, 1970, 1972-79) and compiling a record of 31-17. She was the captain of the French Fed Cup team from 1993 through 1996 and the co-captain of the team with fellow French tennis great Yannick Noah in 1997, when they won the competition. Durr received the WTA Tour’s Honorary Membership Award in 1988 for her contributions to the founding, development, and direction of women’s professional tennis. In April 2010, she received the medal and title of Officer of the National Order of Merit, a national honor in recognition of her contribution to sport and the advancement of women in sport. Durr was inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2003.

Heralded as Italy’s best tennis player, Nicola Pietrangeli had a lengthy career, highlighted by capturing two Roland Garros titles (1959, 1960) and proudly representing Italy for eighteen years in Davis Cup play (1954-1969, 1971-72). During Pietrangeli’s Davis Cup career, he played a record 164 rubbers, winning 120. To this day, he holds the records for the most rubbers played and the most rubbers won. Pietrangeli helped to lead the team to the finals twice during his career (1960, 1961), both times being overcome by Australia for the title. Upon retirement, Pietrangeli became Davis Cup captain, and in 1976, under his leadership, Italy won their first ever Davis Cup title. In addition to his singles victories, Pietrangeli was a finalist at Roland Garros two other times, and he captured the doubles title at Roland Garros in 1959 and the mixed doubles title in 1958. Pietrangeli was inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1986.

Acclaimed tennis author, columnist, and broadcaster, Gianni Clerici has covered the sport for more than 40 years. As a sports reporter, he has written over 6,000 articles, mostly about tennis. Clerici was honored as the Best Italian Sports Columnist in 1992, and Italian Playwright of the Year in 1987. His premier book is 500 Anni di Tennis, which has been translated into French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and English (as The Ultimate Tennis Book). In addition, he wrote a biography about Hall of Famer Suzanne Lenglen, which is the considered the definitive biography of the French tennis star’s life. In recognition of his immense contributions to the sport, Clerici was inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006.

Since 1955, 220 of the greatest champions and contributors to the sport have been inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Induction to the Hall of Fame is based on the sum of one’s achievements in tennis, and is the highest honor available in the sport. Presently, there are 85 Hall of Famers living in 16 different countries, a testament to the global reach of the game. Located in Newport, Rhode Island, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of tennis and honoring the game’s greatest heroes. In addition, the Hall of Fame provides a landmark for tennis enthusiasts, offering an extensive museum that chronicles the history of the sport and its stars, historic grass tennis courts that date back to 1880 and are open to the public, an ATP World Tour tournament and the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in July, and numerous public events year-round. To learn more, visit tennisfame.com.

Jennifer Capriati, a former world No. 1, won three Grand Slam tournament titles and an Olympic gold medal during her career.

NEWPORT, R.I., USA, April 13, 2012 – American tennis star and former world No. 1 Jennifer Capriati has been elected to receive the highest honor in the sport of tennis- induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In addition to her world No. 1 status, Capriati’s successful career featured an Olympic gold medal, three Grand Slam titles, a Fed Cup title with the United States team, and an ability to stage remarkable comebacks. Capriati cracked the world top-10 in 1990, her first season on tour, and in October 2001, she became the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) World No. 1, a position she held for a total of 18 weeks.

“I am thrilled to learn that I have been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. This is a dream come true and an extraordinary tribute. I love this game and am incredibly honored by the Hall of Fame’s vote. Tennis has been my passion and dedication for my entire life, and to be acknowledged for this passion and dedication is truly icing on the cake,” said Capriati. “Finally, to all of my fans: You mean so much to me. I am, and have always been, blessed beyond words by your support both during and after my playing days. You unquestionably made this game so memorable for me and I miss you all so much. I can’t wait to go to Newport to express my sincere appreciation to my fans, and celebrate with them, my family, my coaches, and everyone else in the tennis community. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I truly feel humbled to be a part of history and am honored to be considered among the greatest of all time.”

Capriati has been elected to the Hall of Fame in the Recent Player Category, and she is the final member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2012 to be announced. The previously announced members of the Class of 2012 are former world No. 1, Brazilian tennis star Guga Kuerten; Spanish tennis legend Manuel Orantes; tennis administrator and promoter Mike Davies; and wheelchair tennis star Randy Snow, who will be honored posthumously. The Class of 2012 Induction Ceremony will be held on July 14, 2012 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

“Jennifer Capriati had one of the most accomplished and exciting tennis careers in recent years, and she is most deserving of the honor of Hall of Fame election. We look forward to celebrating this achievement with her and her fans,” said Christopher E. Clouser, chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Capriati, 36, is originally from New York, N.Y., but she has been a long-time resident of Tampa and West Palm Beach, Fla.

In her first season on the WTA, 1990, Capriati reached the finals of two of her first three pro events, losing to Hall of Famers Gabriela Sabatini and Martina Navratilova, and she advanced to the semifinals of the French Open before falling to eventual champion Monica Seles. She also captured her first career title in her first season on tour, defeating Zina Garrison at Puerto Rico.

In 1992, Capriati won the Olympic gold medal at the Barcelona games, defeating both the second-seeded Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario and the top-seeded Stefanie Graf. She was a member of the championship United States Fed Cup team in 2000.

Capriati took a break from tennis in 1994-95 and 1997-98, staging a successful comeback in the 1999, 2000, and 2001 seasons.

At the Australian Open in 2001, Capriati defeated top seed and world No. 1 Martina Hingis in straight sets to win her first Grand Slam title. Having entered the tournament seeded No. 12, she was the lowest seed to ever win the title, a record that still stands today. She then entered the French Open seeded No. 4, and defeated No.1 seed Hingis in the semifinals and No. 12 seed Kim Clijsters in the final to win her second consecutive Grand Slam title. She was the only player that year to reach at least the semifinals of all four of the Grand Slam tournaments.

In 2002, Capriati advanced to her second consecutive Australian Open final, this time as No. 1 seed. Once again facing Hingis, Capriati fought back from 6-4, 4-0 down and saved four championship points, in brutally hot weather, to eventually prevail 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-2, to claim her third Grand Slam title. The match was widely regarded as one of the greatest comebacks in tennis history, and it was named one of the ten best matches of the decade by Tennis magazine. The dramatic match earned Capriati the 2002 ESPY Award for Comeback Player of the Year, for which the other nominees were Hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux and Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan.

Capriati stopped playing at the end of the 2004 season, having compiled a career record of 430-176 and having won 14 career singles titles and 1 doubles title.

Eligibility & Voting

The International Tennis Hall of Fame elects people in three categories- Recent Player, Master Player, and Contributor. Capriati has been elected in the Recent Player Category. Eligibility criteria for this category is as follows: active as competitors in the sport within the last 20 years prior to consideration; not a significant factor on the ATP World Tour or WTA within five years prior to induction; a distinguished record of competitive achievement at the highest international level, with consideration given to integrity, sportsmanship, and character. A panel of International Tennis Media vote on the Recent Player nominee. A 75% favorable vote is required for election.

Located in Newport, Rhode Island, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of tennis and honoring its greatest champions and contributors.

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About the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum

Established in 1954, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of tennis, inspiring and encouraging junior tennis development, providing a landmark for tennis enthusiasts worldwide, and enshrining tennis heroes and heroines with the highest honor in the sport of tennis- induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In 1986, the International Tennis Federation, the governing body of tennis, officially recognized the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum as the sport’s official Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, on a six-acre property that features an extensive Museum chronicling the history of the sport and honoring the 220 Hall of Famers; 13 grass tennis courts and an indoor tennis facility that are open to the public and to a club membership; a rare Court Tennis facility; and an historic 297-seat theatre. Annually in July, the venue hosts the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships for the Van Alen Cup, an ATP World Tour event. The buildings and grounds, which were constructed in 1880 by McKim, Mead & White to serve as a social club for Newport’s summer residents, are renowned for their incredible architecture and preservation. The facility was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is supported by Official Partners including BNP Paribas, Campbell Soup Company, Chubb Personal Insurance, Kia Motors and Rolex Watch USA. For information on the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and its programs, call 401-849-3990 or visit us online at www.tennisfame.com.

Australian tennis great and former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt joins an exciting and growing field for the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships- the only ATP World Tour event on grass courts outside of Europe. In addition to Hewitt, committed players include defending champion and world No. 11 John Isner, world No. 1 doubles team The Bryan Brothers, and rising star Milos Raonic.

NEWPORT, R.I., April 3, 2012 – Former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam tournament champion Lleyton Hewitt has committed to play in the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, to be hosted July 9 – 15, 2012 on the historic grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. After more than a decade on the pro tour, Hewitt’s feisty playing style has kept him as one of the most exciting players to follow. Hewitt was ranked world No. 1 for a total of 80 weeks, and he has finished the season in the top-25 ten times in eleven years (1999 – 2009). In addition to his two major titles, Hewitt won two Tennis Masters Cup titles (2001, 2002), and he captured at least one title each season from 1998 – 2010, with the exception of 2008, for a total of 28 singles titles and two doubles titles to date.
“With his tenacity on court and aggressive playing style, Lleyton always brings a great energy to a tournament. We look forward to welcoming him back to Newport for what is sure to be a great week,” said Tournament Director Mark L. Stenning. This will be Hewitt’s second appearance in Newport, where he made it to the second round in 1998- after one of his earliest match wins on the ATP World Tour. Hewitt joins a dynamic and growing field for Newport, which is the only tournament on grass courts in North or South America, and offers the only opportunity to see men’s pro tennis in the Northeast before the US Open. The event is hosted immediately after Wimbledon and precedes the summer Olympics, which will also be played on grass courts. In addition to Hewitt, players slated to compete in Newport include the tournament’s defending champion John Isner, currently ranked world No. 11; the record-setting, world No. 1 doubles team, the Bryan Brothers; and rising star Milos Raonic, currently ranked world No. 26. Tickets for the tournament are on sale now on tennisfame.com or by calling 866-914-FAME (3263).
After playing Australian Rules football for most of his childhood, Hewitt began to focus on tennis at the age of 13. Just two years later, he became the youngest qualifier in the history of the Australian Open in 1997 at age 15. He won the first of his 28 ATP World Tour singles titles the following year at Adelaide at 16 years, 10 months old, making him the youngest winner on Tour since Michael Chang in 1988.
In 2001, at the age of 20 years, 8 months Hewitt became the youngest player in the history of the ATP World Tour rankings to finish world No. 1, and he was the first Australian to do so. En route to this feat, he won a career-best six titles that season, including the Tennis Master Cup and the US Open, where he defeated Pete Sampras. The following year, Hewitt held the No. 1 ranking every week of the season, and defeated Tim Henman to capture the Wimbledon title.
Hewitt has been an integral part of Australia’s Davis Cup team throughout his career, having been part of the team that won the title in 1999 and 2003 and the teams that reached the final in 2000 and 2001. By the age of 22, he had recorded more wins in Davis Cup singles than any other Australian player, and he currently has a 49/14 record in singles and doubles. Although injured this week, Hewitt will play a mentoring role for the Australian team as they face South Korea in Davis Cup play.
For additional information and to order tickets, please call the Tournament Office at 401-849-6053 or 866-914-FAME (3263) or visit http://www.tennisfame.com.

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About the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships
The Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour event, will be held July 9 – 15, 2012 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, Rhode Island. The tournament draws 32 top male players to Newport direct from Wimbledon to compete for the Van Alen Cup and nearly $400,000 in prize money. Hosted on the legendary grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships is the only ATP World Tour event played on grass in the Americas. In addition to exciting pro tennis, the week features numerous special events ranging from tennis clinics and family activities to the Angela Moore Fashion Show. A highlight of the week will be the Class of 2012 Induction Ceremony on July 14. For additional information, visit http://www.tennisfame.com.